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Some intriguing items in the history of volumetric and gravimetric adsorption measurements

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Abstract

The short survey concerns the discovery of adsorbents and the measurement of the adsorptivity. In the investigation of adsorption very sensitive instruments are needed, developed only recently. Two methods, however, are very old: the volumetric and the gravimetric measurement of the adsorbed amount. In the Bible we find a thorough description of a volumetric adsorption experiment. The systematic research began in 1773 when Scheele, Fontana and Priestley observed the adsorption of air by charcoal. The volumetric apparatus of Brunauer, Emmett and Teller set the prototype for many instruments devoted to measure adsorption isotherms.

The first gravimetric adsorption measuring instruments were hygrometers, described by Nicholas of Cues in 1450, Alberti and Leonardo da Vinci. In 1833 Talabot installed 39 drying balances in a Lyon laboratory for humidity control of raw silk imported from China. In 1912 Emich described an electronic beam microbalance to investigate adsorption and a coil spring balance. Today isotherms are measured gravimetrically by means of electro-dynamically compensating microbalances. Also oscillating systems are being used which allow weighing down to the zeptogram region.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Philipp-Matthäus-Hahn Museum, Albert-Sauter-Str. 15, 72461 Albstadt-Onstmettingen, Kasten, Germany

    Susanne Kiefer

  2. Institut für Anorganische Chemie und Analytische Chemie der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Duesbergweg 10–14, 55099, Mainz, Germany

    E. Robens

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Kiefer, S., Robens, E. Some intriguing items in the history of volumetric and gravimetric adsorption measurements. J Therm Anal Calorim 94, 613–618 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-008-9351-1

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